WELCOME BOARD MEMBERS
We are Deeply honored by your commitment and grateful for The service You provide to our organization and the community.
Together, we will break the cycle of poverty for people in disinvested & underserved communities in and around Chicago.
Our Social Purpose
HHPLift is a nonprofit organization and an award-winning certified employment social enterprise with a mission to advance economic stability by creating quality jobs for the people who need them most.
In conversation: We create quality jobs for the people who need them most.
What We Do
HHPLift is a one-stop shop where socially minded shoppers go to discover stunning, sustainably sourced & sustainably made, artisanal products.
We believe Doing Good Looks Good On You®. When you shop HHPLift, you use your socially conscious buying power to bring about positive change and improve the lives of artisan workers locally in Chicago and around the world. Along with being sourced through social enterprises working to forge economic independence for their artisans, each HHPLift item—from our bath & spa goods, to our bags & accessories, to our gift baskets, and more—is selected for its quality, style, and craftsmanship.
Strategic Priorities
- Job Readiness
- Career Development
- Nonprofit Partnerships
Secure paid jobs in Chicago with immersive training, executive skills development, and alignment with in-demand roles.
Developing sector-based skills in production, 3PL warehousing and fulfillment, certified digital fabrication, graphic design, and leadership development through our training programs.
Program graduate Shanika (pictured right) is now Head of Operations at a Chicago-based health and wellness company.
Serve as Chicago's employment partner for nonprofit innovators, providing job readiness, career development, and advanced training, while fostering strategic partnerships to drive business opportunities and program integration.
Program Inputs & Outcomes
The LiftWorks™ Program: Our Impact
36
Community
The LiftWorks™ Program provided work for residents in 36 Chicago neighborhoods including North Lawndale, West Garfield Park, Woodlawn, and eight communities outside Chicago. The number of areas served has more than doubled since 2018.
203
Workforce and Employment Opportunities
Transforming Lives: Full-time, part-time, and affiliate associates provided employment opportunities with many coming from one of seven workforce development programs in Chicago. This is over 10 times the total of our staff who have held employment opportunities at HHPLift.
117,333
Hours of Work
6,532
Healthy Meals Provisions
Leadership and Career for Full-Time Program Associates
70% on a career path
70% promoted at least once
30% promoted at least twice
67% of hires in management positions
Path to Economic Independence for Full-Time Program Associates
100% Earn over $16/hour
80% Retention at 1 year
50% Retention at 2 years
25% of full-time hires from LiftWorks™ Program
Success Stories
Our mission is best told through the stories of our amazing associates.
Sustainability Strategy
Working Together, We Can Achieve Our Goals
Sustainability Through Earned Income
We are committed to achieving long-term sustainability through earned income generated by sales of our unique products and services.
While we strive to become self-sufficient, we recognize the current need for robust fundraising efforts to bridge the gap between our earned income and operational expenses.
By supporting our fundraising initiatives, you directly contribute to our mission and help us build a solid foundation for future growth and impact.
Suggested Board Stewardship Activities
Your Participation Makes All The Difference
Support and Participate in Events
• Buy tickets
• Sponsor events
• Serve on event committees
• Come to events
• Solicit for silent auction items (e.g., sports tickets, travel, Restaurant certificates, etc)
Serve as Ambassador
• Commit to securing five new donors each year
• Come to non-fundraising events
• Use social media to promote events
• Connect HHPLIFT sales team to your company’s marketing, HR and procurement teams for incentive purchases
• Bring friends, people from your network to events and pre-arranged tours/visits
Host / Sponsor Candle Making Party
• Commit to hosting a Candle Party (see next page for details)
This is a great way to have fun with a group of friends, employees, or school mates.
Make A Personal Donation
• Contribute to the best of your ability (annual campaign gift and other requests)
• Commit to participating in our Friendraiser (see below for more details)
Corporate Sponsorships and Donations
• Secure corporate matching gifts from your company
• Secure corporate sponsorship/donations from your network for Annual Fundraiser
Connect Our Team With Your Network
• Your firm/place of employment’s Corporate Charitable Foundation
• Your firm/place of employment’s Director of Community Outreach (or similar title/role)
• Your firm/place of employment’s Marketing Department, Procurement Team, and HR Department to help us increase earned revenue
Host or Sponsor a Candle Making Party!
Explore Your Inner Artist
Have Fun and Make a Difference
This is a wonderful, fun, and engaging way to introduce HHPLift to your network. Candle Making Parties not only raise awareness, but have resulted in new donors, new corporate business, and new online consumer business, as well. And it’s a great time!
Bring your own food and drinks and favorite playlist. We will help set up and clean up.
How to Schedule a Party
To schedule your party, email our Candle Party Coordinator, Jullie Salgado, Jullie@hhplift.com. Jullie will send you all the details. Please follow these steps:
1) Download Friendraiser Invitation List Form. LINK to form.
2) Complete form with names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses of your invitees (so we can send the finished candles to them).
3) Email the completed Invitation List Form to Jullie@hhplift.com
3) Feel free to use this email template to send your invitees describing the event and what to expect. LINK to template.
4) Be sure to send your invitees this waiver form to sign before the event (don’t worry – we will have plenty onsite for people to fill out if necessary) LINK to Form.
5) Share this map to The HHPLift Ben Arkes Lift Center. along with directions and parking information LINK to Map
One week before your party:
1) Confirm with Jullie (jullie@hhplift.com) the date and time and the number of people who will be attending.
2) Please use this payment link to make your donation for the event ($45 per person: 8 people minimum, 20 people maximum) LINK to Payment
Day of Your Party
Arrive 15 minutes early and enjoy! We will ship candles to their “creators” once ready for shipping.
Candle Party Experience Video
Learn more about the exciting HHPLift Candle Party Experience
Host or Sponsor a FriendRaiser!
Enjoy the Gift of Giving
We Do the Work, You Enjoy the Event
At least once a year, we have the opportunity to share the story of HHPLift’s unique and significant impact on our participants through a friend-to-friend gifting program.
This is a turnkey process for our board members; HHPLift will handle all logistics!
How it Works
Just follow these simple steps to gift people you know with one of our signature 4 oz. candles:
Give us contact information for 5-10 friends who will love HHPLift as much as you!
1) Provide contact information for your 5-10 friends using the Invitation List Form. LINK to form.
2) Email your completed spreadsheet to Isela Flores, Director of Operations at isela@hhplift.com
3) The Friendraiser gifts will ship to your contacts within 4 business days of receiving your donation.
There is a $25 donation for each FriendRaiser gift. Please use this payment link to make your donations LINK to Payment
The firm deadline for HHPLift to receive your spreadsheet list is August 15.
Meet the Team
HHPLift is a team where everyone contributes something unique, positive, and inspiring.
Let's Connect
For more information, to schedule a visit, or discuss a strategic partnership, please contact:
Dena Hirschberg
President & CEO, HHPLift
329 W. 18th Street, Suite 714
Chicago, IL 60616
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